Awards Program 2024 honoring Marlies Crooijmans, and Liedeke Kruk

We are thrilled to announce Marlies Crooijmans and Liedeke Kruk as the winners of the 2024 Maker behind the Maker and Berry Koedam Awards, respectively. In this fourth edition of our awards program, we celebrate and honor the exceptional work and careers of both artists, as well as their contributions to the art field in the Netherlands.

The Maker behind the Maker Award

The Maker behind the Maker Award is unique in its focus on celebrating the craftsmanship and skills of those who work behind the scenes to bring artists' ideas to life. The winner of this year’s edition of the Maker behind the Maker Award is Marlies Crooijmans, an expert in ceramic materials and mold-making. She advised artists and designers for over 10 years on how to materialize their ideas at the European Ceramic Work Centre (EKWC), this experience helped her develop an expertise in ceramics and mold-making. In 2014, she launched her own company, Fabrique Céramique, where she further specialized in the development and production of a wide range of ceramic products. Read the full press release HERE.

The Berry Koedam Award

The Berry Koedam Award recognizes image-makers whose outstanding documentation in the art field has helped bring visibility to the work of other artists and art institutions. The winner of the fourth and final edition of the Berry Koedam Award is Liedeke Kruk, an artist and image-maker based in Tilburg. Much of her work focuses on capturing portraits of artists behind the scenes, during exhibition preparations, or at opening events and dinner receptions. Her photography stands out for its authenticity, which is central to Kruk’s practice. Read the full press release HERE.

Thanks to the support of the Mondriaan Fund and Stichting Stokroos each awardee receives a cash prize of €10,000 and will be honored in a public awards ceremony followed by a reception held at Kunstinstituut Melly. You are invited to be part of this celebration, please book your ticket via the link above. As space is limited, reservations are required.

In 2020, Kunstinstituut Melly celebrated its 30th anniversary by launching these awards, which recognize people whose image-making, craft, and advocacy has been central to the creation, presentation, and appreciation of contemporary art.